Man accused of child abuse found competent to stand trial
LAWRENCE - The attorney to 53-year-old Adolfo Gomez, Elbridge Griffy, says he and his client are on much better terms now. Gomez said he wanted to represent himself last week during a hearing, citing Griffy used a curse word the first time they met. “We got off on the wrong foot, he didn't give himself a chance to really get comfortable with counsel," says Griffy. "He said he had a lot of time to think about it over the weekend and he decided he did want me to represent him."
On Tuesday, Gomez withdrew his request to represenet himself and Griffy will remain on as counsel. Gomez is charged with two counts of child abuse and five counts of aggravated child endangerment after two of his five children were found bound by the hands and feet and blindfolded outside the family vehicle in a Lawrence Walmart parking lot on June 13th. During a hearing last week, Gomez was ordered to undergo a psychiatric evaluation by Bert Nash and on Tuesday he was declared competent to stand trial.
The wife of Adolfo Gomez, 42-year-old Deborah Gomez, is also behind bars accused of the crimes. Last week her attorney said her client, who was in the store at the time the children were found bound, was unaware of what was happening.
Bond has been set at $50,000 for both of the accused and they will be back in court Thursday. The children surrounding this case remain in state custody.